in the first chapter they give you a brief description of the main characters throughout the book... dally is apathetic of the trouble he gets into... and Darry is very confidential of his feelings... pony boy is smart and is still in school.... two bit is the drunk of the pack... johnny is the worrier...soda pop is the protector of pony boy... and Steve is soda pops best friend... the boys get into lots of trouble throughout the book... the second chapter dally pony boy and johnny meet some girls named cherry valance and Marcia at the movies.... dally was being a total jerk to the girls and cherry was very mad with it.... Marcia was having a ball with two bit... and johnny finally had courage to back talk dally to leave the girls alone in peace.... and he started talking when the gang thought he'd never talk after the jump and beating the socs gave him and his parents beating on him all the time... he did not like his living conditions....